Community Members

Disaster Management

Information for North Coast communities

Healthy North Coast is committed to supporting community members prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and other emergencies.

The Primary Care Flood Reflections report captures insights from the flood response and the role of primary care in disaster recovery. Read more here.

For information specific to the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit our COVID-19 page.

Being prepared helps to ensure that when disasters happen, you and your family are ready to respond effectively.

Health and emotional support services for people impacted by disasters and other emergencies.

Mental health and wellbeing support for those recovering from the impacts of natural disasters and other emergencies.

Readiness

Our region experiences a range of natural disasters including floods, bushfires, and drought. Being prepared for an emergency can save lives and support you and your family’s health and wellbeing during and after disasters.  

If you want to be prepared for a future disaster, have experienced a disaster or are recovering from a disaster, visit the Australian Red Cross for useful emergency management information and resources.

Response

Healthy North Coast offers a range of services to support communities during a disaster or emergency situation.

Local primary health services

Heathdirect Service Finder

General practices, Aboriginal medical services, pharmacies and allied health providers can be impacted by disasters. Please contact your health provider before attending to ensure they are open. You can use the Healthdirect Service Finder to locate a health service near you.

Healthdirect

If your life is in danger, please call Triple Zero (000)

If you need medical advice and care, call Healthdirect for free, 24/7 on 1800 022 222 and speak to a registered nurse. They can also connect you or your children with virtual health care services, so you can receive care from wherever you are.

North Coast Health Connect

North Coast Health Connect offers 24/7 confidential medical advice from registered nurses free, with no out of pocket costs via phone or web chat. North Coast Health Connect can connect you to a face-to-face or virtual bulk-billed GP appointment if needed. Call 1800 198 888  

Mental health support

Immediate 24/7 help

Medicare Mental Health phone line

Call Medicare Mental Health on 1800 595 212 for advice, information and connection. This service is available 24/7 and is free to call with no referral needed.

Lismore Medicare Mental Health Walk-in Centre

Visit the Lismore Medicare Mental Health Walk-in Centre at the Lismore Health Precinct. It offers a safe and welcoming place for people to access mental health information, services and supports from multidisciplinary care teams over extended hours. Anyone can reach out for support for themselves, a loved one or patient and client.

It is free and no appointment or referral is needed.

Open hours:

  • Mon to Fri 10 am − 8pm 
  • Sat 12 pm − 8 pm
  • Sun 10 am − 2 pm

Coffs Harbour Medicare Mental Health Walk-in Centre

Visit the Coffs Harbour Medicare Mental Health walk-in clinic at the Coffs Harbour Neighbourhood Centre. They offer a safe and welcoming place for people to access mental health information, services and supports from multidisciplinary care teams over extended hours. Anyone can reach out for support for themselves, a loved one or patient and client.

The Coffs Harbour Medicare Mental Health Centre is an in-person support service for those aged 18 and over.

Open for walk-ins:

  • Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm
  • Saturday – by appointment

It is free and no appointment or referral is needed.

Recovery

Healthy North Coast delivers a range of programs to support our communities in recovery.

Safe Havens

Safe Havens community support and wellbeing hubs offer free on-the-spot services and advice 9-3pm Monday to Friday. Four Safe Haven sites are now operating across our Northern NSW region — Woodburn, Lismore, Mullumbimby and Murwillumbah.

Medicare Mental Health Phoneline 

Call Medicare Mental Health on 1800 595 212 for advice, information and connection. Call 1800 595 212 to speak to a mental health professional today. 

Lismore Medicare Mental Health Walk-in Centre​

Visit the Lismore Medicare Mental Health Walk-in Centre at the Lismore Health Precinct. It offers a safe and welcoming place for people to access mental health information, services and supports from multidisciplinary care teams over extended hours. Anyone can reach out for support for themselves, a loved one or patient and client.

It is free and no appointment or referral is needed.

Open hours:

  • Mon to Fri 10 am − 8pm 
  • Sat 12 pm − 8 pm
  • Sun 10 am − 2 pm

Coffs Harbour Medicare Mental Health Walk-in Centre​

Visit the Coffs Harbour Medicare Mental Health walk-in clinic at the Coffs Harbour Neighbourhood Centre. They offer a safe and welcoming place for people to access mental health information, services and supports from multidisciplinary care teams over extended hours. Anyone can reach out for support for themselves, a loved one or patient and client.

The Coffs Harbour Medicare Mental Health Centre is an in-person support service for those aged 18 and over.

Open for walk-ins:

  • Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm
  • Saturday – by appointment

It is free and no appointment or referral is needed.

Medicare Better Access Initiative

Talk to your GP or contact a Medicare-registered mental health professional, such as a psychologist or mental health social worker, to access up to 10 individual and up to 10 group allied mental health services each year.

Services are available for anyone whose mental health has been affected by bushfires, floods or other disasters. It is not limited to people living in directly impacted areas. People can self-refer to a mental health professional and a mental health treatment plan is not required. Fees may apply.  

Resilient Kids

Resilient Kids supports the capacity and resilience of children, young people (ages 8-18), their parents and carers and schools across the Northern Rivers as part of our community recovery response to the 2022 floods. Resilient Kids will be delivered under three streams. With Stream 1 and 2 being delivered by Social Futures in consortia with The Family Centre and Human Nature Therapy. Services are available in schools and in 6 Wellbeing Hubs around the Northern Rivers, with outreach services to smaller towns and communities.

headspace

headspace provides a range of services to improve the health and wellbeing of young people aged 12-25 and their friends, families and carers across four core areas of:  

  • Mental Health and wellbeing 
  • Physical and Sexual Health 
  • Work and Study Support 
  • Alcohol and Other Drugs

If you or someone you know could benefit from this support please phone or pop into a headspace service near you:  

  • headspace – Tweed Heads: 145 Wharf St, Tweed Heads – 07 5589 8700
  • headspace – Lismore: Level 1/29 Molesworth St, Lismore – 02 6625 0200
  • headspace – Grafton: 59 Duke St, Grafton – 02 6642 1520
  • headspace – Coffs Harbour: 45/53 Little St, Coffs Harbour – 02 6652 1878
  • headspace – Kempsey: 65 Smith St, Kempsey – 02 65393450
  • headspace – Port Macquarie: 10/12 Short St, Port Macquarie – 02 6588 7300 

Community Wellbeing and Resilience Program  

Healthy North Coast (HNC) developed the Community Wellbeing and Resilience (CWR) Program to invest in place-based initiatives that support communities to recover from the impacts of natural disaster and build their capacity to face future challenges.

The targeted funding focuses on building resilience through strong social connections. Since 2022, HNC has commissioned 26 CWR grants to a total value of $6.3 million through Australian Government Department of Health, NSW Government Ministry of Health and Healthy North Coast funding. An independent evaluation has also been commissioned to assess program outcomes and impact.

Resources

Lead disaster management agency for NSW

Recovery information for communities 

Information on financial assistance from Service NSW

Information on financial assistance from the Australian Government

Maintaining health during and after floods and storms

Australian Government drought services and support

Information and resources to help you cope after a disaster

Preparing for and recovering from floods

Community Trauma Toolkit

Support for young people aged 12 to 25 years

Find the right Australian digital mental health and wellbeing resources

Information and resources to help you cope after a bushfire

Practical and emotional support for people in bushfire affected areas

Mental health resources for people affected by bushfires

Resources including online forum for anonymous peer-based support

What you or others might experience after a crisis, and how to manage it

Helpful advice & practical strategies to support small children

Understanding recovery and looking after yourself

Mental health support for people who are culturally and linguistically diverse 

Support for first responder families to proactively look after their wellbeing

Helpful advice for caring for babies during an emergency